FROM PIANIST TO PILOT:
Meet Volunteer Pilot Jacob to cover the cost of his flight training. “My parents paid for piano lessons when I was younger,” says Jacob. “That allowed me to perform piano gigs for compensation in high school and college, and that money went straight toward the cost of licenses and ratings.” W, on for AF first missi ngeles is A h e h w T e t fl a Jacob his care to geles. s n e A m s a ing J ute in Lo it st In transport h rc Resea Clinic and
Like many pilots, Jacob’s interest in aviation began at a young age. Growing up in Livermore, California, Jacob’s father would take him to the local municipal airport to watch planes from the observation deck. Captivated by each takeoff and landing, this experience eventually led Jacob to pursue his childhood dream of becoming a pilot. During high school, Jacob began flight training to earn his private pilot license (PPL). Over the next four years, he earned his private, instrument, and commercial licenses from flight schools in the Livermore area. His grandmother funded his college education, allowing
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Today, Jacob is an engineer in the San Francisco Bay Area, living close to his family and friends. When he isn’t working or enjoying time with loved ones, Jacob uses his passion and talent for flying to make an incredible impact with Angel Flight West (AFW), an organization that connects volunteer pilots with patients in need of distant medical care. Renting Cessna 182s and 206s from Advantage Aviation in Palo Alto, Jacob flew his first AFW flight in 2019 and has since completed 28 more missions. “I heard about AFW shortly after getting my private pilot’s license,” Jacob recalls. “I loved the idea of flying longer trips, and it allowed me to engage in a customer-facing role. The experience with AFW so far has been exactly as advertised—I am thrilled to lend a hand by flying missions.” Jacob flew a mission for campers Marisa and Jaden, bringing them home after their week at Lions Wilderness Deaf Camp.